There are a lot of experts in the field of “finding your bliss” today. Over and over we hear about the importance of fidelity, honesty, (BLAH, BLAH, and BLAH) and the never far from the top of the list- selflessness… There’s an endless barrage of books written on the subject…ineptly termed “self help” books. I think that’s hilarious.
And sad.
I ‘m confounded by the fact that so many self help gurus get richer while the people they are supposed to be helping become even more miserable. What happened to FUN, people? Why aren’t they called “Fun Gurus” and why do we need them to write books in the first place? Where in all those books is the importance of play; and of equal importance, our playmates?
Make no mistake- I love my children, and have laughed more with them collectively than any other group of people. It’s different, though. Frequently I am laughing AT them, and they are laughing at themselves…and we all laugh at me. My children are incredible human beings, each and every one of them; being mother to them has been a source of love and enlightenment that I am humbled to be the recipient of…I treasure them, and love them dearly. But-
Mr. Wilson was, is, and always will be, my favorite playmate.
Life with J.C. is just…different. I never had a friend like him. I’m glad he’s around to lighten me up. I have a tendency to get caught up in the details sometimes, or to immerse myself in the “planning” until I’m drowning in it. J.C. is only going to leave me out there for so long…Then here he comes- my life preserver. Sometimes it’s more like my hammer to the head. Whatever form it takes, he runs a good interference between me, me, and me. I NEED that, and having found it, I know how blessed I am. I’m not an easy person to live with or understand, sometimes. I can be pretty intense. That’s when I need J.C.- he is a pro at “play”.
You have to encourage each other (and all those you love) to be silly, to let go sometimes and live in that childlike stage again. Remembering why we’re here (REALLY HERE) is not a natural tendency. As adults, we push playtime aside. I’d like to know when “play” became a bad thing. Why is it referred to in derogatory terms as something that “selfish” individuals do; actions that detract from the glory of modern adulthood? It’s such a simple thing, really, to allow you to play. I spent a lot of my life trying to uphold some unwritten standard of “grown folk’s glory”. I was miserable, and it took a major life change to open my eyes- and lighten my spirit. It shouldn’t be that hard.
So go outside today- take a walk with your lover. Ride bikes with a child and let them describe the world to you that they see. Throw a ball for your dog and chase it too- or better yet, go to your local shelter and adopt an old dog…give someone else the gift of a playmate. Paint a picture- with your hands. Go visit a neighborhood nursing home and make some new friends- and photograph them for free. Ride a motorcycle. Play hooky. Get a group of friends together and play a game of football- the tackle kind. Climb a tall tree and look around.
Just for a day, run- don’t walk- away from the seriousness.
“To play” is a verb.
Tracy Wilson on Facebook
Solace Pit Bull Rescue
I need this advice!
ReplyDeleteShell I think it's something we all need to hear every now and then. All too often we get caught up in day to day stuff...not that those things aren't important, but it's just stuff.
DeleteIt's not the essence of who (and what) we really are.
If you needed to hear it, I'm glad you stopped by.
Tracy
I thank God play was something we learned growing up and continued as adults. The only thing I said to Alpha Hubby after he asked me to marry him was that I could guarantee him only one thing - I would make sure he had a good time and laughed a lot. He'd had some horrid knocks right before I met him so he sure needed laughter! Alpha Son is also an expert on PLAY. This was an awesome post - I'm gonna link to it, OK? OK!
ReplyDeleteNan- you know whatever you want is ok with me:)
DeleteThank you, very much!
Well said, goes well with my post in a way, because this is EXACTLY the type of thing I miss! Good for you for recognizing it!
ReplyDeleteSSSM- It'll come...I always tell you, just have Faith.
DeleteI try to loosen up every day and just "go with it." This was a great message!
ReplyDeleteAww thanks so much- I'm so glad to have found your amazing blog! I sit and read and LOL at my desk;)
DeleteI'm in love with this advice! Glad to meet you, Tracy (you just visited me via Nan of Little Black Dress Diaries).
ReplyDeleteYes Ma'am...I'm so glad I jumped over. I hate to do that because I feel like a stalker sometimes, but I don't think Nan would mind. In fact, just the opposite!
DeleteYou are so right... and you're lucky to have a person like JC in your life. My husband is like that, too. He always finds the silly and makes me laugh, no matter how serious I'm trying to be. And sometimes that's infuriating, haha, but I'm grateful for it.
ReplyDeleteHaha mine is too- sometimes I'm tempted to take a swing at him but it always ends in a smooch:)
DeleteLoved this post, Tracy. Ya know, every time you write about your relationship with JC and the bond you have with your kids, I find myself smiling, nodding my head and feeling a little bit more connected to you. It's actually kinda freaky sometimes. In a good way, of course. ;~)
ReplyDelete(Uh-oh... Brace yourself ~ I feel one of my notoriously long comments coming on. LOL)
I've had far too many friends who've divorced and the main reason most of them gave, was that they drifted apart in the process of raising kids, building careers and all of the other things that come with being grown up married people. In a nut shell, they forgot (or didn't bother) to "nurture the couple".
This might sound a little wacky, but I think it should be a pre-req for couples who are getting married, to have to sit down with couples who've split and have them explain exactly why or how their relationships fell apart. It might not change anything in that moment, but at the very least, it might plant a little seed that will help them remember to try like hell during their marriage, not to make the same mistakes.
OK. I'll zip it. Just felt the need to put my two cents in. Maybe one of these days I'll learn how to do it more briefly. xoxo